Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I shall be justified.
It is on Your knowing that I am not a wicked one; and there is no one delivering out of Your hand.
I am a laughingstock to his friend; he calls to God, and He answers him; the just one, the blameless one is a mockery;
Listening, listen to my word, and let my declaration be in your ears;
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his friend!
I would set in order my cause before Him, and I would fill my mouth with arguments.
I hold fast on my righteousness, and I will not abandon it; my heart shall not reproach me any of my days.
And these three men rested from answering Job, because he was a righteous one in his own eyes.
You said, I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and no iniquity is in me;
For Job has said, I am righteous; also, God has turned away my right;
Turn back, please, let there be no wrong. Yea, turn back again, for my righteousness is in it.
If I am being righteous my mouth will condemn me; though I am the perfect one, He shall declare me perverse;
though I were the perfect one, I would not know my own soul; I despise my life.
Cause Me to remember; let us judge together; sum up for yourself, that you may be justified.
For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we had our conduct in the world in simplicity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, and especially toward you.